Packing and mulching implement.



L. T. RASMUSSEN.

PACKING AND MULCHING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 28, 1913.

Unitarian strafrits PATENT onirica.

LAURITS T. RASMUSSYEN, F COUNCIL IBL'UTFS,v IOWA, ASSIGQNOR T0 WALKER MANU- FACTUBING COMPANY, OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, A CORPORATION 0F SOUTH DAKOTA.

PACKING AND '.lVll'lLCHINCr IMPLEMENT.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd [313 243,191

Application led February 28, 1913. Serial No. 751,277.

T0 all ctv/1.0m it may conce/m Be it known that I, LAURITS T. RAsMUssnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Council Bluffs, in the county of Pottawattalnie and State of Iowa, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements 1n Packing and Mulching Implements, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined packer and mulcher, useful for pulverizing and smoothing the surface of land which has been plowed, cultivated or seeded, and in connection therewith to f orm pockets for re-` taining moisture.

The invention includes the use of peripherally tapered disks to form grooves and ridges, and the employment, intermediate the disks, of toothed, annular plates or disks, so arranged that they form indentations or perforations in the ground.

The`invention has reference particularly to the mounting of the toothed plates or disks, so that sand or substances which ordinarily cause friction, will become loosened from their bearings, and 'providing such a construction that, while'substantially of the same diameter as the other disks, they will be disposed rearwardly, to cause the perforations to be made on the crest of ridges which have been formed, packed and pulverized .by the other disks.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a combined packer and mulcher embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side-view of a peripherally tapered disk. Fig. 3' is a side view of a toothed disk. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a toothed disk mounted upon a peripherally tapered disk. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a peripherally tapered disk on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, a toothed disk in transverse section being added, to show relativev position of parts.

Referring now to the drawing for a more and secured thereon is a platform 4 upon which thetongue 5 and drivers seat 6 are secured.

At 7 (Figs-2, 5) arel indicated peripherally tapered disks, each having a tire 8 pro-v vided wit-h an outwardly tapered ridfc a the hub and spokes being respectively tindi cated at 9 and 10. The spokes may be cast y integral with the tire and hub, if desired,

and the spokes preferably are so arranged that they form a web disposed in alinemcnt withy one of the edges of the tire. At uniform radial distances upon the spokes are provided lugs 11. They provide bearing surfaces b extendingvparallel with the axis of the peripherally tapered disk and dis- .posed laterally and outwardly of the periphery thereof. The peripherally tapered disks 7, for convenience of description, will hereinafterbe designated as primary disks.

At l2 are indicated annular plates or secondary disks, each being provided with peripheral prongs or teeth c, its aperture providing a bearing-wall fl. These secondary disks are mounted upon the lugs 11 of the primary disks, their thickness preferably being equal to the length of the lugs, so' that they will be supported; and when the parts o-f the implement are assembled, one of the secondary disksyill be disposed between two primary disks.`

' By referring to Figs. 4: andv 5 it will be seen that the inner bearing-wall (Z of each secondary disk 12 has an adequate diameter so that only one or two of lugs 11 will make contact with it at the saine time, and this construction is of advantage, since their teeth or projections should -not be pressed into the ground with a force equal to the pressure exerted upon the primary disks, also the indentations or'perforations should be made by the teeth after the ground has been packed. v

Since the apertures of the annular plates or secondary disks l2Y provide bearing walls d of greater diameter than the combined radial distance of any two of lugs 11 from the axis of disks 7, a recess, pocket or op' erating-space e is provided for their movement, and therefore when the implement is moving forwardly the secondary disks will be disposed rearwardly of the primary disks, and they will be pressedy downward by their own weight, the combined weight of other parts of the implement exerting no pressure upon said secondary disks.

lHince lugs `Il are disposei'l midway bctneeuthcv ends ol the spokes, the leverage which they provide is greater for sustain-v it they were `supported nea-rer the axle, andl thisl feature addsl to the durability otl the lugs and disks, and materially .reduces any liability tor the break: ge of the lugs. Also on account of the spaces e, above mentioned. sand. or substances which usually produce friction, will not accumulate on surfaces 7) ot the lugs, but during' the movement ot the implement, will be dislodged therefrom.

'lhe primary and secondary disks may be constructed of any suitable `dia-meters. lhile I have shown and prefcruniform diameters for these mcu'ibers, it is obvious that the diameter of the secondary disks` may be greater or less than that of the primary disks and operation will be substantially the same, since the secondary disks are completely separated from the primary disks, and are not controlled by them except when the inner beari11g-wall b is engaged by one or two of the lugs 11.

The benefit derived by use of packingdisks for agricultural purposes is so well known that no description is required. The object of' mulching the ground in conjunction with packing is to form small indentations in the Lground between the grooves to aid 'in retaining moisture. The herein described ilnplement operates to advantage for this purpose. `The parts as described may be conveniently constructed, and are durable in Wear.

In the use of packing disks as ordinarily constructed, adhesive soil may become deposited upon and often projects over the edges of the peripheries. Since disks l2 are disposed rearwardly of disks 7, as shown in the present construction, it may be stated that the presentation of theperipheries oi these members outwardly of each other at the front'. and rear of the iinp|eiuent will operate. to dislodge these adhesions to a considerable extent, and this feature is considered to be of importance, especially when the implement is employed 'for packing);` and mnlching certain kinds of soils.

Having' fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. An implement for the purposes described, comprising in combination with a frame and an axle journaled therein, diskmembers formed with tapered peripheries and mounted upon the axle, cach of said disk-members being formed with a web disposed lush with one edge ot its periphi-iry and connected with its hub and provided with bearing-lugs intermediate its hub and said periphery; a plurality of annular plates provided with peripheral projections and disposed tocircnmscribe the axle intermediate said disk-members in the plane of said lugs, the diameter of the apertures ot said plates being of sutlieient extent to prevent coincident contact with all of said lugs.

2. A-n implement for the purposes described, comprising, in combination with a, supported axle, disk-members mounted tlie1eon,each of said disk-members being provided with spokes disposed in alinement with yone edge ot its tire and provided with bearing-lugs intermediate its hub and said tire; a plurality of annular plates provided with peripheral projections and interposed between the disk-members to eircumscribe said lugs, the apertures 'of said plates being of sufficient extent to prevent coincident contact of the plates with all ot' said lugs.

In testimony whereof I have atiixed my signature in 'presence of two witnesses.

LAURITS T. RSMUSSEN.

Titnesses HIRAM A. STURGES, L. M. THOMAS. 

